Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries by Emily Arnold McCully. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. 40 pages.

“No Japanese ship or boat . . . nor any native of Japan, shall presume to go out of the country; whoso acts contrary to this shall die.” ~Tokugawa Shogunate pronouncement, 1638.

Manjiro, a fisherman’s boy, who was shipwrecked on a fishing trip, then rescued by a Massachusetts whaling ship, seems to have been a resourceful and intelligent young man. He, along with his fellow fishermen, survived six months on a deserted island. He traveled to Massachusetts with the captain of the ship that rescued them, learned English, and reading, and writing, and navigation. Then, he went to the California gold fields and earned enough money for a boat to take him back to Japan. Then, in act of either bravery or desperate homesickness or both, he returned to Japan to face the possible penalty of death for his having left the country of his birth.

I liked reading this brief account of Manjiro’s life, and I believe children who read the book will find his story to be inspiring. It takes perseverance and hard work to encounter a different culture, learn what you can from the other, and then return to be a bridge between cultures and peoples as Manjiro did. This book would be a good addition to studies of Japan and its history, nineteenth century exploration and business, the Gold Rush, whaling, and cultural appreciation. For more information and further study:

Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg tells more about Manjiro and his life for a slightly older audience.

Commodore in the Land of the Shogun, also by Rhoda Blumberg, tells about the opening of Japan to American and Western influence and trade after two hundred and fifty years of isolation. Manjiro played a part in Commodore Perry’s success in negotiating with Japan’s leaders.

Emily Arnold McCully is a fine writer and illustrator, with many good books to her credit, including The Pirate Queen, a picture book biography of female pirate Grania O’Malley; An Outlaw Thanksgiving, a fictional tale of a Thanksgiving dinner with famous outlaw Butch Cassidy; and Mirette on the High Wire, a Caldecott Award winner.

If you are interested in purchasing ($5.00) a curated list of favorite picture book biographies with over 300 picture books about all sorts of different people, email me at sherryDOTpray4youATgmailDOTcom. I’m highlighting picture book biographies in March. What is your favorite picture book about a real person?